God the Deliverer

I have heard people describe David as a "giant killer."  Some have made the point that many of David's mighty men who hailed from lowly backgrounds were also giant killers.  One fact which should not be ignored is David killed Goliath and delivered Israel solely by the grace and power of God.  Like Joseph who admitted the ability to understand and interpret dreams was not in him yet through God was able to do just that, so was David's ability to fight.  God had delivered him from lions and bears, and He would certainly deliver David from the hand of the blasphemous Philistine Goliath.  With God on David's side it was Goliath who was the underdog.

Perhaps so we don't place David on a giant-killing pedestal, there was recorded another and lesser known account of David with a giant.  David was unable to kill the giant, and barely escaped with his life.  2 Samuel 21:15-17 tells us, "When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. ¹⁶ Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. ¹⁷ But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel."  Though David defeated Goliath as a youth, he was not perpetually a strong warrior.  Likely due to advancing age, in the heat of a battle with the Philistines David became faint.  David still trusted God, and God remained faithful to deliver him.  God used a different means to deliver David from the second giant:  a brother in arms who rushed to his aid.

We like to think if we are strong today, we will be strong tomorrow.  Perhaps we assume like Moses we will go through life without our eyes becoming dim or our natural strength being reduced.  But alas, this is rarely the case.  This situation with David becoming faint in the battle demonstrates that no matter the great victory he experienced in the past, he needed help from others.  This teaches us regardless of how God may have used us to deliver others, it is good to acknowledge we need faithful brothers and sisters today in the fight by our side.  We need help from God and from men.  God at times allows His faithful warriors to "lose a step," so to speak, so others can step up and be used by God as well.  I don't know what was more humbling for David:  to defeat Goliath with a sling and stone or to be helped by his cousin Abishai to escape the fury of the giant.  It was God who delivered David on both occasions, and it is good to recognise all victories we enjoy are by the power of His gracious deliverance.

David wrote of God in Psalm 18:29-34, "For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. ³⁰ As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. ³¹ For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? ³² It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. ³³ He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. ³⁴ He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze."  God's strength is often revealed in weakness.  God had made David strong and skilled for battle, but over time God allowed David's physical prowess to wane.  Yet even in David's weakness God remained his shield.  God's ways were still perfect.  When David fainted, God brought along a brother to help David and lift him up.

David lost his physical strength, but he only grew stronger in faith.  On his deathbed, David described God as the one who delivered him from all distress (1 Kings 1:29).  It was not his faith or bravery, his trusty sling and stone, and it was not Abishai who received the credit.  David gave all glory to God for delivering Him, and He will deliver all who trust in Him - regardless of age, physical ability, or social standing.  Both young shepherds and aged kings are invited to trust the LORD, whose ways are perfect.  Trust the LORD, and He will deliver and guide you into rest for your soul.